Probation as a Court Disposition

Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP), Serving Children, Families, and Communities

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Q:	How many delinquency cases receive probation as the most restrictive disposition?
A:	Probation was ordered in 48% of the more than 1.1 million delinquency cases that received a juvenile court sanction in 2005.

Disposition of delinquency cases, 1985-2005

Year	Waived to criminal court	Placed	Probation	Other sanctions

1985	7,200	107,900	430,100	182,300
1986	7,400	113,400	447,200	202,100
1987	6,800	108,400	440,500	212,000
1988	6,700	109,100	440,900	216,800
1989	8,000	122,500	428,100	221,500
1990	8,500	126,200	469,200	239,000
1991	10,700	129,700	508,900	278,700
1992	11,300	135,600	540,500	299,100
1993	11,500	139,700	520,800	300,900
1994	13,000	150,600	565,400	329,800
1995	11,300	155,800	621,300	343,000
1996	11,500	173,800	626,800	391,400
1997	10,900	182,800	658,800	396,500
1998	10,300	173,600	639,900	388,300
1999	8,800	168,600	627,300	369,300
2000	7,400	167,200	611,700	387,500
2001	6,400	157,900	608,200	384,400
2002	7,100	152,400	603,300	383,300
2003	6,600	150,300	600,000	395,400
2004	6,600	143,200	586,500	420,900
2005	6,900	140,100	556,500	454,700

[ Graph version ] [ Excel file ]

In 2005, an estimated 556,500 delinquency cases resulted in a term of probation - 29% above the the number of cases placed on probation in 1985.
Adjudicated delinquents accounted for 67% (373,400) of all delinquency cases placed on probation in 2005. In the remaining delinquency cases, the youth agreed to some form of voluntary or informal probation.

Internet citation: OJJDP Statistical Briefing Book. Online. Available: http://ojjdp.ncjrs.gov/ojstatbb/probation/qa07102.asp?qaDate=2005. Released on September 12, 2008.

Adapted from Puzzanchera, C. and Sickmund, M. (2008). Juvenile Court Statistics 2005. Washington, D.C.: Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.